What are you currently working on?

At the beginning of this year I put the finishing touches on a musical that I composed (with the help of a librettist) and am currently in the midst of the rehearsal process, as it premieres this spring! The show, titled Lost & Found consists of the following: Lost & Found tells the story of six friends who just graduated college and are all in different stages of figuring out what comes next. Tied together by the words of a letter one girl writes in hopes of resolving some unspoken problems, they realize it’s never the wrong time to be upfront about how you feel. Along with this I am the music director of the all girl a cappella group on campus, Boots & Cats. We are in the middle of recording a CD, which consists of 8 songs, 6 of which are my arrangements.

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What DMYAT projects were you involved with?

Composer / Sound Designer for My Name is Rachel Corrie
Assistant Composer / Sound Designer for Little Women (composing Jo's opera, the play within the play)

Music Director for Adolescent Anarchy's Big Fish

Sound Crew for The Hobbit

Instructor / Music Director for A Charlie Brown Christmas: 2016 Winter Break Camp

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What project are you most proud of (artistically?)

Oh goodness, I would have to say that my newly finished musical is the biggest and most important thing (to me, at least) that I have ever done in my life. The fact that I got to create a story line, scenes, and songs from nothing was so exciting!

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How did DMYAT prepare you for life beyond Des Moines theatre?

DMYAT was the first theater that let me explore my love for sound design after realizing that I had an interest in the field. Without the follow through after that original spark, I'm not sure I would be where I am today, majoring in composition (and music education but that isn't relevant here)!

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What advice do you have for current Young Artists, ranging in age from 8-18?

There is so much more to theater than being in the spotlight. Don't get me wrong, I love being onstage, but my love of composition has turned out to be even greater. Try something new every once in awhile that is a little outside of your comfort zone. All our passions start that way and, without taking that leap, I would not be where I am today. Plus, isn't it wonderful to try something new and exciting?

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To follow Meredith's advice and try something outside your comfort zone, email Artistic Director, David VanCleave, and inquire about opportunities on DMYAT Production Teams.

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To be featured on DMYAT's Spotlight, click here.

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